Photographic material transport with vacuum platen

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses an automatic machine for handling bulk roll form photographic material during manufacture of photographic enlargements. The machine dispenses the photographic material in the objective plane of an enlarger, holds the material flat for an exposure, and then transports the material to the position for the next exposure. A novel platen and pneumatic system provides for vacuum holddown of the photographic material for an exposure and then provides an air cushion on which the photographic material rides as it is being advanced to the position for the next exposure. Adjustment of the length of material dispensed for each exposure is easily made by means of an electronic timer unit.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Rubert J. McDuff Arlington, Tex. [21] App]. No. 801,072 [22] Filed Feb. 20, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Mobil Oil Corporation [54] PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL TRANSPORT WITH VACUUM PLATEN 15 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 355/73, 355/92 [51 Int. Cl G03b 27/60 [50] Field of Search 355/73,9l, 92

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,206,333 7/1940 Robertson 355/91 2,574,392 11/1951 Huebner 355/73 2,881,658 1/1959 Bornemann 3,064,524 11/1962 Durst ABSTRACT: The specification discloses an automatic machine for handling bulk roll form photographic material during manufacture of photographic enlargements. The machine dispenses the photographic material in the objective plane of an enlarger, holds the material flat for an exposure, and then transports the material to the position for the next exposure. A novel platen and pneumatic system provides for vacuum holddown of the photographic material for an exposure and then provides an air cushion on which the photographic material rides as it is being advanced to the position for the next exposure. Adjustment of the length of material dispensed for each exposure is easily made by means of an electronic timer unit.

PATENTEUNBVZ ml 3.617.127 SHEET 10F 4 9 r m (4b 52 58 amao INVENTOR RUBERT J. McDUF F PATENIEnunv 2 l97l SHEET 3 BF 4 l CYCLE START swncu 40 CLOSED RL- ENERGlZED l l l I l L-Z DELAY l l RL- 3 ENERGIZED i-1 1 H MOTOR a2 ENERGIZED 1 'r 1 VACUUM 0N paassuna ON 1 ,F l INVENTOR TIME FIG. 8

RUBERT J. McDUFF awn/g4 ATTORNEY SHEET Q [If 4 ISTI PATENTEDHM 2 INVENTOR RUBERT q. McDUFF E N E Ti amt 52E mv P 1 31 m N'Lv ATTOR NEY PI-IOTOGRAPIIIC MATERIAL TRANSPORT WITII VACUUM PLATEN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to photographic equipment and, more particularly, to an automatic machine for handling bulk roll fonn photographic materials during the manufacture of photographic enlargements.

When photographic enlargements are made with an enlarger on bulk roll form photographic materials, some means must be provided for handling the photographic material. The handling operations required include unrolling the material, positioning it in the objective plane of the enlarger, and rerolling the exposed material. One technique for making photographic enlargements on bulk roll materials is by manual operation in whichtwo persons are required to perform the operation. The photographic material, which may, for example, be in the form of photosensitive paper or film, is dispensed from a roll onto a base positioned in the objective plane of the enlarger. The photographic material is held flat in the objective plane by a piece of heavy plate glass which presses the photographic material againstan underlying base. After a photographic exposure the plate glass must be raised, the photographic material repositioned, unrolled and rerolled, and the glass plate repositioned over an unexposed segment of photographic material.

With the manual method of handling the photographic materials in making enlargements, a great deal of material is wasted because of unavoidably inaccurate dispensing of lengths of material between each exposure. The wasted material between each adjacent exposure frame may be such as to double the length of photographic material required for exposure of successive frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a novel and improved automatic machine for handling bulk roll form photographic materials in making exposures with a photographic enlarger. Briefly described, some of the features provided by the present invention include:

1. Automatic dispensing and takeup of bulk roll form photographic materialsin the objective plane of an enlarger. 2. A novel platen and pneumatic system which holds the photographic material by vacuum in the objective plane of the enlarger during exposure and then releases the photographic material from adherence to the platen by air pressure whereby the photographic material may float on a cushion of air as it is being transported to the position for the next exposure. 3. Minimum wastage of photographic material by virtue of accurate dispensing and takeup of the exact amount of material for each successive exposure. 4. An adjustment for the length of photographic materials dispensed for each successive exposure by an electronic timer system. 5. Immediate stoppage of movement of photographic material between exposures by application of vacuum to the platen to suck the photographic material against the platen and thus brake the forward move ment of photographic materials at a precise position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view;

FIG. 2 is a plan view with the masks and magazine lids removed and the drive maps shown schematically;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing details of the platen and pneumatic system;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the drive means and pneumatic control system;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit;

FIG. 8 is a time diagram of the sequence of operations;

FIG. 9A is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 2 with the magazine door in the open position; and

FIG. 9B is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 2 with the magazine door in the closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT General Construction Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, an example embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a photographic projection apparatus or enlarger l0. Enlarger 10 projects a photographic image to an objective plane in which is located a platen 12. On opposite sides of platen 12 are a supply magazine 14 and a takeup magazine 16. A pair of masks l7 and 18 blocks the light projected from enlarger 10 outside an adjustable exposure frame width. Photographic material wound in aroll 19 is carried on a spool mounted on a shaft 20 within supply magazine 14. The photographic material passes through a slit 22 in the base of magazine 14, lies across the top of platen 12, passes through a slit 24 in the base of takeup magazine 16, and winds upon a roller 26 in the supply magazine. Photographic material is advanced across the platen 12 by a drive means designed generally 30. Drive means 30 includes an electric motor 32 which is coupled through a drive mechanism to a drive roller 34 located within the takeup magazine 16.

A portion of the control circuit for controlling the sequence of operations is contained within a housing 38 shown attached to the side of takeup magazine 16. Projecting above the housing 38 is a start button 40 which can be depressed to initiate a cycle of operation.

An electric timer unit 42 with timer control knobs 424-420 is adjustable to detennine the length of photographic film dispensed during each cycle of operation.

The platen 12 includes a number .of aperture means or pneumatic channels 12a-l2d which are provided in concentric arrangement to accommodate dilierent widths of photographic material which may be used. Only one pneumatic channel is normally cmployed in a given operation. The pneumatic channel to be used is the one located just inside the edge of the photographic material. For example, for the width of photographic material shown in FIG. 2, the pneumatic channel 12b would be employed. Each of the pneumatic channels 12a-12 consists of a rectangularly shaped groove formed in the body of platen 12 and exposed to the platen surface. Each of pneumatic channels 12a-l2d is connected through an air vacuum line 44 and to a source of vacuum (unshown) also connected through an air pressure line 43 to a source of air pressure (also unshown).

Basic Operation There will now be briefly described the basic operation of the example embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The example embodiment shown is intended for use under dark room conditions. To begin processing operations, a roll of photographic material such as photosensitive film is loaded in darkroom conditions within the supply magazine 14. The photographic material in magazine 14 is extended through the slit 22 across the top of platen 12 into the slit 24 in the base of the takeup magazine 16, and wound around the takeup roller 35.

The air pressure line 43 and the air vacuum'line 44 are connected to a source of air and vacuum pressure, respectively,

such as a conventional pump and reservoir unit. The length of each exposure frame on the photographic material is adjusted by means of electronic timer unit 42. The increment of each photographic film drawn ofl during each cycle may be calibrated in a predetermined manner whereby the time set by means of control knobs 42a-42c may be converted into length dimensions. I

As soon as the air vacuum line 44 is connected to the source of vacuum pressure, suction is immediately applied to the pneumatic channels 12a-12d. For example, if the pneumatic channel 12b is chosen to be used, suction is immediately applied through this pneumatic channel to cause the photographic material to be sucked flat against the platen 12. A photographic exposure can then be made by means of enlarger with the assurance that the photographic material is flat in the objective plane over the required exposure frame.

For the next photographic exposure, the start button 40 is depressed immediately causing the following to happen: (a) the drive means, including the electric motor 32, is actuated to advance an increment of photographic material from the supply magazine 14 across the top of platen 12 and into the takeup magazine 16; (b) the vacuum pressure in pneumatic channel 12b is immediately released and air pressure is applied to pneumatic channel 12b whereby the photographic material is released from adherence to platen 12 and floats on a cushion of air as it is being advanced. By having the cushion of air during advancement, scratching of the photographic material on platen 12 is avoided.

At the end of the operation cycle, the duration of which is set by the timer unit 42, the drive means including the electric motor 32 is deactuated and simultaneously air pressure is removed from pneumatic channel 12b and vacuum is applied. The immediate application of vacuum to pneumatic channel 12b helps brake the forward movement of the photographic material to a complete halt almost simultaneously with the deactuation of the drive means. This precision movement of the photographic material helps to eliminate material wastage; and, each adjacent exposure frame can be placed close together on the photographic material with the assurance of no overlap.

With an unexposed length of material drawn beneath the objective plane of the enlarger 10, a second exposure can be made. The sequence of operations is then repeated for other exposures by depressing the start switch button 410.

Takeup and Supply Magazines Construction of the takeup magazine 16 and the supply magazine 14 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

Supply magazine 14 comprises a housing including a lower body section 14b and a removable lid 14a. Photographic material roll 19 is supported by a pair of core inserts with rims 54 and 55 which are mounted on shaft 20. Shaft 20 is journaled in bearings in end blocks 52 and 53, but can be lifted out of the end blocks for loading of the photographic material. Rims 54 and 55 are movable along shaft 20 to provide abutment with and support for the core of rolls of photographic material of different widths. Rims 56 and 55 include a springloaded ball index which mates with circumferential grooves in shaft 20 at various axial locations.

Also included in supply magazine 14 is idler roller 56 which is mounted in end blocks 58 and 59.

The takeup magazine 16 also includes a housing generally similar in construction to that of supply magazine 14 and has a lower body selection 1617 with a removable lid 16a. Also included in takeup magazine 16 is a drive roller 34 which presses against an idler roller 6 5 which is removably journaled in end blocks 65 and 66. Drive roller 34 is removably journaled at one end in an end block 67. The other end of drive roller 34 is supported by the hub (unshown) of a drive shaft 138. For removal of drive roller 34 the idler roller 64 is first removed, one end of drive roller 34 is lifted upwardly from end block 67 and the other end is pulled from engagement with the unshown hub of drive shaft 138. Idler rollers 56 and 64 and drive roller 3 8 are, in an example embodiment, hollow rubber tubes.

The takeup roller 35 in magazine 16 is supported at one end in mounting block 60 and at the other end in a drive shaft 62.

Each of magazines 14 and 16 can be made lighttight by an arrangement which includes a pair of magazine door assemblies for closing slits 22 and 24. FIGS. 9A and 9B show details of the door assembly for supply magazine 14. The assembly includes an exterior cover plate 70 which is secured to lower body section 14b by means of screws 71. Mounted within a compartment 72 formed by the wall of the lower body section 14b and the interior of the cover plate is a movable door 73. FIG. 3A shows door 73 in the open position, while FIG. 9B shows it in the closed position. Door 73 is held in position and adjusted by means of a pair of screws having knurled heads 74 and 75. The shaft 76 of one screw is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B extending through a slot 70a in the cover plate 70 into a threaded hole in door 73. By rotation of knobs 74 and the door 73 can be held against the interior wall of the cover plate 70 in the desired position, open or closed. In the closed position shown in FIG. 9B the door 73 blocks slit 22 and makes magazine 14 lighttight.

The magazine door assembly for magazines 16 is similar in construction to the assembly described above for magazine 14. It includes a cover plate 77 and door-adjusting knobs 78 and 79.

Magazines 14 and 16 are attached to the platen 12 by means of brackets 80 with knurl-headed screws 81 extending from brackets 80 into threaded holes in cover plates 70 and 77.

In the example embodiment illustrated, the takeup magazine 16, the supply magazine 14, and the platen 12 are intended to rest on a flat surface which provides the main structural support. When the machine is to be transported, it is convenient to remove each of the magazines 14 and 16 from the platen 12 and transport the various parts separately.

As shown in FIG. 1, the masks 17 and 18 rest against pegs 93, 94, 95, and 96 which fit in pegholes 97 formed in the platen 12. By placing pets 93-96 in different pegholes 97, the width of the area exposed to the enlarger 10 may be adjustable to accommodate different size exposure frame widths.

The Platen and Pneumatic System There will now be described the mechanical construction and features of the platen 12 and the associated parts of the pneumatic system with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

The pneumatic channels 12a-12d are formed as grooves in the body of platen 12 which rests on a supporting surface (unshown) on blocks 100. The grooves are exposed to the upper surface of platen 12 but do not extend completely through its body. Each of pneumatic channels 12a-12d is in communication with the air pressure and vacuum supplied respectively by air pressure line 43 and air vacuum line 44. Air vacuum line 44 includes a solenoid valve 104 which is controlled by the control circuit to be described later. Also the air pressure line 43 includes a solenoid valve 102. Lines 43 and 44 are joined at a common coupling 106 to the inlet of an air control device 108. Air control device 108 includes valves which are controllable by valve control knobs 110-113. Each of these valves is in fluid communication with the flowline coupled through common coupling 106. The outlet of each of the valves in device 108 is individually coupled via flexible hoses to pneumatic channels 12a -I2d. Each of hoses 115-118 is in fluid communication with pneumatic channels 1211-12, respectively, by means of joints 119-122 which are located in recesses in the platen 12. By means of the valve control knobs 110-113, the flow of air to or from each of pneumatic channels 12a-12d may be controlled to regulate the flow of air or to shut off completely the air flow to or from any given pneumatic channel. For example, if pneumatic channel 121) is desired to be used for a width of photographic material which extends just wider than the edge of pneumatic channel 12b, the valve control knob 111 will be opened to the position to provide the proper amount of air supply and the valve knobs 110, 112, and 113 will be closed to shut off the supply of air from the pneumatic channels not beneath the photographic material. It has been found desirable to use a thin transparent sheet 107 which rests on platen 12 above the photographic material and functions to bias the material toward the platen following removal of the air cushion. Without using sheet 107, it was found more difficult to establish suction of the photographic material immediately following removal of the air cushion.

In the example embodiment being described, platen 12 consists of a solid board of a material sold under the trademark Lucite.

The Drive Means There will now be described with reference primarily to FIG. 6 the detailed construction of the drive means 30. Drive means 30 includes the electric motor 32 which is mounted on a bracket 130 attached to the takeup magazine 16. A right angle bracket 131 extends from attachment at the backside of magazine 16 to support the base bracket 130.

Rotation from the armature of the electric motor 32 is transferred through a right angle joint 132 to a shaft 133. At one end of shaft 133 is a sprocket 134 which meshes with a chain 135,.which in turn meshes with a second sprocket 136. Sprocket 136 is mounted upon a shaft 138 which supports the drive roller 34 (FIGS. 2-3).

The rotational power from the electric motor 32 is applied to rotate the drive roller 34 by means of the chain drive mechanism just described.

Rotational movement is applied to rotate the takeup roller 35 by means of an arrangement which includes a small pulley 140 attached to the shaft 138 and a slip clutch 141 having a pulley 142 and s slipping element 144. A drive belt passes over pulley 140 and pulley 142. Slip clutch 141 is mounted on the drive shaft 62 of the takeup roller 35. The shaft 62, together with the shafts 133 and 138, are all journaled in bearings in a right-angle bracket 145. The slip clutch 141 provides for tensioned takeup of the roll of photographic material of increasing diameter to be wound upon the takeup roller 35. More specifically, when the roll of photographic material has a small diameter on roller 35, a different rate of rotation of shaft 62 is required for continuous takeup than when the diameter becomes large. To provide for this different rate of takeup of the takeup roller 35, the slip clutch 141 is provided. As the diameter of the takeup roll increases, the slipping element 144 begins to slip relative to the pulley 142. Pulley 142 rotates at a constant rate throughout the takeup cycle while the slipping element 144 begins to slip progressively more as the diameter of the takeup roll increases.

The takeup roller 35 is removable by virtue of a retractable plunger assembly which includes square rod 146 that is biased outwardly by a spring 146a located within the hollow interior of roller 35. Rod 146 extends through a square aperture in end cap 147 which is secured to the end of takeup roller 35. A round extension 148 of rod 146 fits inside a receptacle 62a attached to shaft 62. A locking pin 149 passes through the round extension 148 and rests in notches in the receptacle 62a.

When takeup roller 35 is to be removed, locking pin 149 is grasped and the rod 146 is retracted inside roller 35 until the round extension 148 clears the receptacle 62a.

The supporting bracket 130 also provides the supporting surface for the solenoid valves 102 and 104. An electrical cable 150 from the timer unit 42 (FIG. 1) extends through a plug 152 mounted in the right-angle bracket 131. The various electrical wires 154 are shown extending to the electric motor 32 and the solenoid valves 102 and 104. The wires carried in conduit 160 extend to the portion of the electrical control circuit contained in the housing 38 (FIG. 1).

The Control Circuit There will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 the control circuit for controlling the cycle of operations of the machine described above. The primary components of the control circuit are the timer unit 42, a start switch 40, and three relays RL-1, RL-2, and RL-3, all of which are shown in their unenergized condition. In an example embodiment relays RL-1 and RL-3 are Potter and Bromfield type No. KRP l l A-l V; relay RL-Z is an Amperite Delay Relay No. 115 C3, having a three second time delay; and timer unit 42 is an Electra Decade Counter No. TM8Ic having a l l l-second maximum time set period. The motor 32 is a llO-volt, AC motor available from Bodine Electric Co. as Model No. NSl-l2R6. The valves 102 and 104 are solenoid valves, llO-volts, available from Peter Paul Electric Co., Model No. 24KN7XCV.

AC line voltage is applied through line plug to power timer unit 42 and also through power outlets in timer 42 to power the electric motor 32 and the solenoid valve coils 102a and 104a. A toggle switch 172 in timer unit 42 switches the power for all of the electrical components of the control circuit. Timer unit 42 includes a remote start input to which conductors 174 are connected. An AC power outlet to which conductors 176a and 176!) are connected provides power switched by toggle switch 172. The timer output is connected via conductors 179 to energize the electric motor 32 at the end of the preset time interval.

Relays RL-l, RL-2, and RL-3 are connected to be energized by the power outlet to which conductors 176a and 17612 are connected. More specifically, the conductor 176a is connected through the pushbutton start switch 40 to the coil of relays RI .-2 and RL-3. The conductor l76b is connected to the other side of the coils of relays RL-l, RL-2, and RL-3.

With the line voltage plug 170 connected to line power and the toggle switch 172 turned to the on" position, the following sequence of operations occurs when the start switch 40 is depressed:

1. Relay RL-3 becomes energized so that relay contact 182 is opened and relay contact 181 is closed. Even though power is applied across the coil of relay RLJ, contact 180 is not opened until after the delay period of relay RL-2. 2. Relays RL-2 and RL-3 pick up holding voltage through a circuit which can be traced from conductor 1760 through closed relay contacts 180 and 181, through the coils of relays RL-2 and RL-3, and back to conductor 1761). The opening of contact 182 does not result in initiation of the timing cycle in timer 42. 3. Simultaneous with the closing of start switch 40, voltage is applied from conductor 176a through start switch 40 across the movable relay contact 184 which touches fixed contact 18411 to one end of each of solenoid valve coils 102a and 104a. The electrical connections and air couplings of the solenoid valves 102 and 104 (FIG. 6)-are such that when their respective coils are energized air pressure is applied to the platen l2 and at other times air vacuum is applied. Thus, as soon as start switch 40 is depressed, solenoid coils 102a and 104a are energized to cause air vacuum to be removed from the platen 12 and air pressure to be applied simultaneously. 4. At the end of the time delay period of relay RL-2 (labeled At in FIG. 8), relay contact 180 is opened, thereby breaking the hold circuit for relay RL-3. Relay RL-3 thus becomes deenergized so that relay contact 181 is reopened and relay contact 182 is reclosed. The reclosure of contact 182 results in initiation of the timing cycle interval in the timer unit 42 by connection through the remote start input. 5. When the timing cycle interval is initiated in the timer unit 42, AC power is applied via conductors 179 to energize the electric motor 32. Electric motor 32 then causes the drive means to advance photographic material. 6. AC power, which is applied to conductors 179 by the timer unit 42, is also supplied via conductor to the coil of relay RL-l, thereby causing movable relay contact 184 to move from fixed relay contact 1841) to fixed relay contact 184a. AC power is applied to energize solenoid coils 102a and 104a by means of the circuit including conductor 190, fixed relay contact 184e, movable contact 184, solenoid coils 102a and 104a, and conductor 176b. Thus, air pressure is continuously applied to the platen during the time that the electric motor 32 is energized. 7. At the end of the timing cycle interval preset in timer unit 42 by knobs 420 -42c, the AC power on conductors 179 is removed, thereby deenergizing the electric motor 32 and stopping movement of photographic material. 8. Simultaneously with the removal of power from conductors 179, power is removed from the coil of relay RL-l causing it to be deenergized and causing movable contact 184 to return to the position touching fixed contact 184k.

Modifications It will be apparent from the described of an example embodiment of the invention that the invention may take several different embodiments. For example, the machine of this invention may be incorporated into a photographic apparatus which is fully enclosed in a lighttight housing. A particularly advantageous modification would be the inclusion of the start switch button 40 of FIG. 7 into the cycle of operation control for the photographic apparatus. Thus, it would be possible by the depressing of a single switch to cause exposure of a photographic image and the movement of the photographic film to the position for the next exposure.

The control circuit described in connection with the exact embodiment is desired because of its simplicity, but it can be replaced by a control means having cams or other mechanical devices for actuating the drive means and the pneumatic system in the desired sequence of operations.

It will also be apparent that ditterent types of aperture means can be provided in the platen 12. For example, a series of individual openings could be provided instead of continuous grooves.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine comprising:

a. supply means for supporting a roll of photosensitive material; b. takeup means for receiving exposed photosensitive material; c. a platen for supporting photosensitive material in the objective plane of a photographic apparatus, the platen having a flat surface and aperture means exposed to the flat surface; d. drive means for advancing photosensitive material across the platen from the supply means to the takeup means; e. a pneumatic system including means for supplying an air vacuum to the aperture means in the platen, whereby photosensitive material may be held flat against the platen for a photographic exposure, and means for supplying air pressure to the aperture means in the platen whereby photosensitive material may be moved out of contact with the platen during advancement thereof; and f. control means for l. actuating the drive means for a preset time period,

whereby photosensitive material is transported an increment across the platen, and

2. actuating the pneumatic system to release vacuum from the aperture means and to supply air pressure to the aperture means during actuation of the drive means.

2. The machine defined by claim 1 in which the control means includes a time delay means so connected that the drive means is actuated at a delay time after air pressure is supplied to the platen, whereby photosensitive material is released from the platen before advancement of photographic material begins.

3. The machine defined by claim 1 in which the control means includes a manually adjustable electronic timer circuit for actuation of the drive means, whereby the length of photosensitive material advanced by the drive means during each cycle of operation may be adjusted.

4. A machine comprising:

a. a platen having a flat surface and aperture means exposed to the flat surface, the aperture means extending over a two-dimensional pattern;

b. a supply magazine and a takeup magazine located on opposite sides of the laten;

c. a supply roller in the supply magazine for supporting a roll of photosensitive material;

d. a takeup roller in the takeup magazine for receiving exposed photosensitive material extending across the flat surface of the platen from the supply magazine;

c. drive means for advancing photosensitive material across the platen;

f. a pneumatic system whereby either vacuum or pressure can be supplied to the aperture means in the platen; and

g. a control means for l. actuating the drive means for a preset time interval,

whereby photosensitive material can be advanced an increment across the platen, and

2. actuating the pneumatic system to release vacuum from the platen during actuation of the drive means and to supply pressure to the aperture means in the platen whereby the photosensitive material is released from adherence to the platen and floats on a cushion of air during advancement.

5. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the control means includes a manually adjustable timer circuit for controlling actuation of the drive means, whereby the length of photosensitive material advanced by the drive means during each cycle of operation may be adjusted.

6. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the control means includes a time delay circuit so connected that the drive means is actuated at a delay time after air pressure is supplied to the platen, whereby the photosensitive material is released from adherence to the platen before advancement begins.

7. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the aperture means in the platen comprises a continuous groove of rectangular shape.

8. The machine defined by claim 7 in which the aperture means includes a number of concentric grooves of rectangular shape, thereby accommodating photosensitive materials of various widths.

9. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the drive means comprises:

a. a drive roller in the takeup magazine;

b. an electric motor coupled by a mechanical linkage to the drive roller; and

c. a slip clutch coupled to the takeup roller through a mechanical linkage to the drive roller.

10. The machine defined by claim 9 in which the electric motor is mounted on a bracket attached to one end of the takeup magazine.

11. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the pneumatic system comprises:

a. an air line connected to the aperture means in the platen;

and

b. a pair of solenoid valves, each having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of each solenoid valve being coupled to the air line, the inlet of one solenoid valve being for connection to a source of air pressure, each of the solenoid valves being electrically connected for actuation by the control means.

12. The machine defined by claim 11 including a manually adjustable valve in the air line for regulating the flow of air to and from the aperture means in the platen.

13. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the platen comprises a solid board having a series of continuous grooves of rectangular shape exposed to the flat surface of the platen and extending a portion of the way through the board.

14. The machine defined by claim 4 and wherein the takeup magazine and the supply magazine include a slit parallel to the platen through which photographic material can be threaded and further comprising means for closing said slits whereby the magazines can be made lighttight.

15. A machine comprising:

a. a platen having a flat surface and at least one groove exposed to the flat surface and extending in a closed loop configuration;

b. a supply magazine and a takeup magazine located on opposite sides of the platen, a slit being formed in each of said magazines parallel to and adjacent to the flat surface of the platen;

c. a supply roller located in the supply magazine for supporting a roll of photosensitive material;

d. a takeup roller in the takeup magazine for receiving exposed photosensitive materia] extending through the slit in the supply magazine across the flat surface of the platen through the slit in the takeup magazine;

c. drive means including a drive roller located in the talteup magazine for advancing photosensitive material acres the platen;

f. means for closing each of said slits in the takeup and supply magazines whereby said magazines can be made lighttight;

3. means for rotating said takeup roller at variable speeds in correlation with the diameter of the takeup roll of exposed photosensitive material;

h. means including a first electrically actuated valve for directing vacuum from a vacuum source to said groove in the platen;

. means including a second electrically actuated valve for directing air pressure from an air pressure source to said groove in the platen;

j. means for actuating said drive means for a preset time interval whereby photosensitive material can be advanced Patent No.

Inventor(s) Rubert J. McDuff It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column (SEAL) fittest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTTON UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Dat November 2, 1971 line 10, line 9,

Signed and sealed this 2nd dew ofLMay 1972.

5, after "relates" insert --generally-.

25, "designed" should read --designated--;

32, after "start" insert --switch--;

34, "electric" should read --electronic--; and 47, "l2a-l2" should read l2a-l2d 57, "with" should read --and--.

14, "magazines 16" should read --magazine l6--; 30, "pets" should read --pegs--; and

57, "l2a-l2" should read l2a-l2d 23, "s slipping" should read --a slipping--; line, after "drive belt" insert --l43; and 71, "No. TMSk" should read --No. TMB,

55, "supplied" should read --applied-; and

"exact" should read --example--. 43,

after "air" insert --vacuum, and the inlet of the other solenoid valve being for connection to a source of air--; and cancel "and".

"applied" should read --supplied--.

ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Commissioner of Patents "described" should read --above description-a 1M PC3-1050 (10-69) USCOMM'DC GOEITB-Pfi U5. GOVERNMENY PRINTING GFFICE 1969 0-355-314 

1. A machine comprising: a. supply means for supporting a roll of photosensitive material; b. takeup means for receiving exposed photosensitive material; c. a platen for supporting photosensitive material in the objective plane of a photographic apparatus, the platen having a flat surface and aperture means exposed to the flat surface; d. drive means for advancing photosensitive material across the platen from the supply means to the takeup means; e. a pneumatic system including means for supplying an air vacuum to the aperture mEans in the platen, whereby photosensitive material may be held flat against the platen for a photographic exposure, and means for supplying air pressure to the aperture means in the platen whereby photosensitive material may be moved out of contact with the platen during advancement thereof; and f. control means for
 1. actuating the drive means for a preset time period, whereby photosensitive material is transported an increment across the platen, and
 2. actuating the pneumatic system to release vacuum from the aperture means and to supply air pressure to the aperture means during actuation of the drive means.
 2. actuating the pneumatic system to release vacuum from the aperture means and to supply air pressure to the aperture means during actuation of the drive means.
 2. The machine defined by claim 1 in which the control means includes a time delay means so connected that the drive means is actuated at a delay time after air pressure is supplied to the platen, whereby photosensitive material is released from the platen before advancement of photographic material begins.
 2. actuating the pneumatic system to release vacuum from the platen during actuation of the drive means and to supply pressure to the aperture means in the platen whereby the photosensitive material is released from adherence to the platen and floats on a cushion of air during advancement.
 3. The machine defined by claim 1 in which the control means includes a manually adjustable electronic timer circuit for actuation of the drive means, whereby the length of photosensitive material advanced by the drive means during each cycle of operation may be adjusted.
 4. A machine comprising: a. a platen having a flat surface and aperture means exposed to the flat surface, the aperture means extending over a two-dimensional pattern; b. a supply magazine and a takeup magazine located on opposite sides of the platen; c. a supply roller in the supply magazine for supporting a roll of photosensitive material; d. a takeup roller in the takeup magazine for receiving exposed photosensitive material extending across the flat surface of the platen from the supply magazine; e. drive means for advancing photosensitive material across the platen; f. a pneumatic system whereby either vacuum or pressure can be supplied to the aperture means in the platen; and g. a control means for
 5. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the control means includes a manually adjustable timer circuit for controlling actuation of the drive means, whereby the length of photosensitive material advanced by the drive means during each cycle of operation may be adjusted.
 6. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the control means includes a time delay circuit so connected that the drive means is actuated at a delay time after air pressure is supplied to the platen, whereby the photosensitive material is released from adherence to the platen before advancement begins.
 7. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the aperture means in the platen comprises a continuous groove of rectangular shape.
 8. The machine defined by claim 7 in which the aperture means includes a number of concentric grooves of rectangular shape, thereby accommodating photosensitive materials of various widths.
 9. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the drive means comprises: a. a drive roller in the takeup magazine; b. an electric motor coupled by a mechanical linkage to the drive roller; and c. a slip clutch coupled to the takeup roller through a mechanical linkage to the drive roller.
 10. The machine defined by claim 9 in which the electric motor is mounted on a bracket attached to one end of the takeup magazine.
 11. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the pneumatic system comprises: a. an air line connected to the aperture means in the platen; and b. a pair of solenoid valves, each having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of each solenoid valve bEing coupled to the air line, the inlet of one solenoid valve being for connection to a source of air vacuum, and the inlet of the other solenoid valve being for connection to a source of air pressure, each of the solenoid valves being electrically connected for actuation by the control means.
 12. The machine defined by claim 11 including a manually adjustable valve in the air line for regulating the flow of air to and from the aperture means in the platen.
 13. The machine defined by claim 4 in which the platen comprises a solid board having a series of continuous grooves of rectangular shape exposed to the flat surface of the platen and extending a portion of the way through the board.
 14. The machine defined by claim 4 and wherein the takeup magazine and the supply magazine include a slit parallel to the platen through which photographic material can be threaded and further comprising means for closing said slits whereby the magazines can be made lighttight.
 15. A machine comprising: a. a platen having a flat surface and at least one groove exposed to the flat surface and extending in a closed loop configuration; b. a supply magazine and a takeup magazine located on opposite sides of the platen, a slit being formed in each of said magazines parallel to and adjacent to the flat surface of the platen; c. a supply roller located in the supply magazine for supporting a roll of photosensitive material; d. a takeup roller in the takeup magazine for receiving exposed photosensitive material extending through the slit in the supply magazine across the flat surface of the platen through the slit in the takeup magazine; e. drive means including a drive roller located in the takeup magazine for advancing photosensitive material across the platen; f. means for closing each of said slits in the takeup and supply magazines whereby said magazines can be made lighttight; g. means for rotating said takeup roller at variable speeds in correlation with the diameter of the takeup roll of exposed photosensitive material; h. means including a first electrically actuated valve for directing vacuum from a vacuum source to said groove in the platen; i. means including a second electrically actuated valve for directing air pressure from an air pressure source to said groove in the platen; j. means for actuating said drive means for a preset time interval whereby photosensitive material can be advanced an increment across the platen; k. means for controlling said first actuatable valve such that vacuum is applied to said groove in the platen to suck photographic material flat against the platen for a photographic exposure and is removed when said drive means is being actuated to advance the photosensitive material; and l. means for controlling said second electrically actuatable valve such that air pressure can be supplied to said groove in the platen when said drive means is being actuated, thereby providing a cushion of air on which photosensitive material can float as it is being advanced. 